For clients who are concerned about column rot, decay or insect attack of pressure preservative treated wood columns there are some solutions.
One of them is a product patented in 1994 by Homework Design, Inc., called Plasti-sleeve®.
Now in use in tens of thousands of buildings nationwide, Plasti-sleeves® are the original wood column protection beyond just pressure preservative chemical treatments. The Plasti-sleeve® completely covers the embedded portion of the columns with a molded plastic sleeve. The sleeve has an enclosed bottom and is designed to fit columns cleanly while still offering ventilation. The clean fit means construction methods do not have to be altered to fit other framing members.
We all know plastic will last indefinitely underground.
Plasti-sleeves® are manufactured only from a high quality HDPE plastic. This material has an in-ground decay resistance measured not in years, but in centuries!
Due to what most feel were unfounded concerns regarding CCA pressure treating chemicals, numerous new chemical combinations have entered the marketplace. Based upon their chemical composition, they should perform admirably, however they do not have the decades of successful results like CCA had. Whatever the preservative formulation may be, plastic is as close to a forever solution as possible when it comes to wood column foundations.
The makers of Plasti-sleeve® have also developed an economical version dubbed the “short sleeve”. The short sleeve is available for use on the same popular column dimensions as the Plasti-sleeve®, however it is only 22” long, so it protects the potential decay area only.
Unsure at all of pressure preservative treated wood in the ground? Then Plasti-sleeves® may be the answer for your new pole building.
Want to learn more? Check out their website: https://www.plasti-sleeve.com/
Has there been any independant testing done? Seems like it could hold moisture.
Jeff ~
While the Plasti-Sleeve is a patented product, I am unaware of any testing which has been done. The manufacturer does recommend the use of sealants and installed properly, the top of the sleeve is well above grade and inside the walls of an enclosed building. Could it hold moisture? I would have to say without question it could.
If you make certain your post is reasonably dry before installing the sleeve, then the sleeve would forever keep moisture out. Seeing that the top of sleeve is well above grade. Sounds like a good idea to me considering I just talked to a friend at work who said his p.t. posts are showing decay after only 11 years in the ground here in the Pacific NW.
So would you recommend this system if installed correctly?
Travis ~
I would seriously question any properly treated post showing signs of decay within the lifetime of the purchaser. If it is actually confirmed as the case, this would be the first time it has ever been documented as having happened. The Pacific Northwest is an area of the country where the probability of decay is very low to begin with. There are many instances where inadequately treated timbers have been used for structural purposes – primarily in cases where timbers treated for use as landscaping have been purchased from a big box store such as Lowe’s.
If you are concerned about a properly pressure treated column decaying prematurely, or have purchased inadequately treated timbers, then I would recommend the use of properly installed Plasti-Sleeves.
Yeah im confused, it says the plasti-sleeve allows ventilation but then it says you should seal the top of the sleeve. If you seal the top how would it ventilate?
My article mentions nothing about sealing the top.
Im sorry, on the plasti sleeve web site it mentions sealing the product. Im assuming they are talking about the top to keep water out.
It say’s it recommends the use of sealants. What would the sealants be used for is what im asking.
thank you
It is regards to if you add an uplift device to the outside or through the sleeve – whether it be rebar, uplift plates, etc. Basically you would be puncturing the sleeve below grade, so seal any penetrations.
Has anyone made any pros or cons of the plasti-sleeve vs the post protector?
We have not had reports of negatives on either.
How is uplift prevented, when using plastic sleaves on posts?
Uplift plates https://www.hansenpolebuildings.com/2018/12/uplift-plate/ or rebar through columns (close to bottom) can still be used to prevent uplift. As there is no oxygen in soil near column base, perforations of sleeve at those points will not cause premature deterioration of columns.